Life at the CowChows has been idyllic lately. Autumn is always a beautiful time here but this year it has been especially so.

I was sitting on the front steps a while ago enjoying the waning warmth of late afternoon; a delicate breeze carrying the sweet scent of honeysuckle tickled the few remaining leaves on the old elm and some let go their grip and wafted to the ground; the tinkling sound of children's laughter carried up the hill like ascending prayers and faded into the crystal sky. I leaned back against the stair, closed my eyes, breathed deep, and allowed the singular peace of the moment to fill me. I lay there for some time, feeling weariness seep away and wellbeing creep in, and then I heard the scuff of a shoe on the sidewalk. I cracked one eye open, and saw the little blond haired girl from next door standing at my feet. I closed my eye.

A long moment passed. I waited but heard nothing. Then, "What ya doin'?"

Another long moment passed. I heard the scuff of her shoe on the concrete. She cleared her throat. I heard the rustle of fidgeting fabric and then, "I saw you open your eye."

I sighed and sat up. "Hello," I said.

"Hello. Why did you close your eye when you saw me?"

"I was practicing."

"Practicing what?"

"In case I ever want to ignore someone I want to do it right."

"Hmmm," she said. "Were you ignoring me?"

"No, just practicing. Apparently I need more practice. You want to come back later and I'll try it again?"

"Okay," she said happily, "but first, my Mom is making a cake for dessert and she doesn't have enough sugar. Do you have any?"

"Yes, I'm pretty sure we have some sugar. Will that be all? You sure you have enough eggs and flour and milk?"

"Yeah, just the sugar, I think," she said seriously.

I returned a couple of minutes later with a cup of sugar and handed it to her. "Thanks for dropping by; enjoy your cake; goodbye," I said.

She took the cup, turned, took two steps and stopped. She was frowning into the cup when she said, "This sugar is... brown."

"It's raw sugar," I said. "It's the same as white sugar but not processed as much. It's better for you than white sugar."

"It looks... dirty," she said with a scowl.

"It's not dirty. It's just different."

"You said it was the same," she said dubiously

"It is....! Okay, it's sugar. It's just like the sugar you're used to but it just looks a little different."

"Yeah, it looks dirty!"

"Fine," I said. "Take it home and wash it before you give it to your Mom and it'll be fine."

"Okay," she chirped. "Thank you."

And, as the door was closing behind me I heard her call, "See ya later for practice."

Fraternally yours,

Tim Couch

Now, on with the news........................

Congratulations to all the new Masters of the Royal Secret, 32nd Degree A.A.S.R. We hope your experience was rewarding and memorable.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010: RWB Tim Couch will conduct a Regional School of Ritual Instruction hosted by Strafford Lodge No. 608. Instruction will focus on the 3rd Degree of Freemasonry and will begin at 6:00 PM. All Master Masons are encouraged to attend.

Thursday, October 28, 2010: Annual Fall Chicken Dinner fundraiser for Monett Masonic Lodge No. 129. Smoked/Grilled Chicken, Baked Beans, Potato Salad, and Drink for $6.00. Lunch will be served from 11:30am to 1:30pm. Dinner will be served from 4:30pm to 6:30pm.

Saturday, November 6, 2010: Solomon Lodge No. 271 A.F.& A.M. is sponsoring a Sport Shooting charity event to benefit the McGregor and Bowerman Elementary Schools in Springfield, MO. All proceeds will go to the schools.

There will be a raffle for a new Benelli Shotgun as well as a $50 Gift Card from Bass Pro Shops.

The event will be held at the Ozark Shooters Sports Complex, 759 US Highway 65, Walnut Shade, MO 65771. Registration will begin at 9:00 AM; Shooting will start at 10:00 AM, and lunch will be served at Noon. For more information contact Jay Gibbs at (417) 350-2700.

There's lots of degree work going on in Missouri. See the links below to keep up with the latest or to submit information for your upcoming meeting.